Former State secretary of the Rythu Sangham, an affiliated outfit of the CPI(M), B. Tulasidas, on Tuesday urged the State government to initiate action against the cartel of cashew traders and representatives of cashew processing units, alleging that they were responsible for the drop in the prices of cashewnuts.
Members of the sangham staged a maha dharna at Palasa to highlight the plight of the farmers as well as workers who were hit severely due to the bandh being observed by cashew processing units.
Mr. Tulasidas said the farmers were unable to get even ₹8,000 per quintal with the cashew traders’ syndicate trying to plummet the prices.
Cashew Farmers’ Association district convener T. Ajaykumar said a 24-hour protest would be staged on July 28 if the government failed to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for cashew.
CPI(M) district secretary D. Govind said over one lakh farmers and workers were badly affected by the strike by the processing units.
